Top 20 shops names in the UK revealed
SURELOCK Homes, Planet of the Grapes and Spruce Springclean have emerged as some of the wittiest named businesses in Britain.
A study of 2,000 adults discovered the most pun-derful company names, including a barbers suitably named The Chopfather and an aptly titled coffee shop, Deja Brew.
It comes after 79 per cent of those polled said a business name helps express its personality and branding.
And 43 per cent are more likely to recommend a business with a witty name, compared to one with a more traditional moniker.
Alan Collins, 70, owner of Spruce Springclean, a carpet cleaner in Cornwall, said: "The name came about in the 80s when I bought my first van.
"I thought I should come up with a name for my business and I was on my way to a friend's house to discuss it with him.
"On the way I heard a record on the radio and the disk jockey said it was by Bruce Springsteen, but I misheard him and thought he said Spruce Springclean."
The research also found 48 per cent of Brits believe a witty or memorable business name is more likely to make them use that company over a similar one.
Paul Tribouillard, 45, owner of Surelock Homes, said: "We've been around for a while now but we still get comments about our name.
"It was my friend who came up with it, he used to own the company. I don't know how he came up with it, just made it up I suppose.
"We were on the radio on a show about the best business names, we came runner up.
"I'm glad that people enjoy it, we get a lot of laughs about it."
Top 20 shop names in the UK
- Surelock Homes, locksmith, Portsmouth
- Planet of the Grapes, wine bar and restaurant, London
- Spruce Springclean, carpet cleaners, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
- Floral and Hardy, florists, Hertfordshire
- A Fish Called Rhondda, fish and chip shop, Pentre, Wales
- Jean Claude Van Man, removal company, Merseyside
- Bonnie Tiler, tiling and plumbing, Gateshead
- Grate Expectations, fireplace specialists, Wimbledon
- Wright Hassall, solicitors, Leamington Spa
- Barnie's Rubble, DIY shop, Bolton
- Sellfridges, white goods outlet, Stoke Newington
- Deja Brew, coffee house, Denton
- Facial Attraction, beauty salon, Pontypool, Wales
- The Chopfather, barbers, Bristol
- Samuel 'L' Jackson, driving instructor, Southport
- Flying Nemo, fish and chips shop, Yorkshire
- Alan Cartridge, office supplies, Leeds
- Jason Donervan, food truck, Bristol
- PG Trips, bus charter, Houghton le Spring
- Hair Raid Shelter, hairdressers, Downham Market, Norfork
Also among the most memorable shop names in the UK include a solicitors from Leamington Spa with the fortuitous name Wright-Hassall and Bonnie Tiler, a female-fronted tiling and plumbing company based in Gateshead in the north-west.
More than half of those polled via OnePoll would prefer to see more businesses embrace a quirky name.
Lisa Jacobs, UK managing director at SME lending platform Funding Circle, which commissioned the research said: “It’s great how small businesses bring their characters and personalities through with these imaginative names whilst also brightening up our days with a laugh or chuckle.
“Business doesn’t have to be all serious.
“A play on words allows businesses to stand out from the crowd, attract customers and convey a bit of their sense of humour.”
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